Process of finishing surfaces in simulation of napped cloth



Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Guido Ariotti,Stamford, Conn.,

assignor to Atlas Powder Company, Wilmington, Del., a corporation ofDelaware I No Drawing. Application June 1,

Serial No. 673,929

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a new method of finishing, wherein metal, woodor composition surfaces are coated in such manner that they appear to becovered with a finely napped cloth.

5 My invention is particularly adapted to the finishing of small orirregular objects which can be covered with cloth only with greatdifficulty and at a relatively high cost. My process is equally welladapted for finishing large surfaces such as burial caskets, theinterior of automobile bodies and even the walls of a room. Otherarticles which have been successfully finished according to my processare cast iron toys, vanity cases, clock cases, lip stick holders,handbag frames and radio cabinets. My process is particularly adaptedfor finishing relatively rough surfaces such as castings and the like asI can obtain a smooth finish of excellent appearance without thenecessity of first filling and sanding, which operations are frequentlynecessary when enamel, paint or lacquer are employed as the finishingmediums.

In carrying out my process I first-apply to the surface a coating ofadhesive of a nature hereinafter set forth. While the surface is stillwet or tacky I apply cotton rayon, silk, mohair, or other suitableflock. The flock may be applied by first sprinkling a quantity on thewet surface and then shaking or vibrating the coated article in suchmanner as to thoroughly embed the flock in the wet surface of thelacquer or other finishing material used. However, the preferred methodof applying the flock is by blowing it on by means of compressed air byuse of a specially constructed spray gun. When this method is employedthere is no necessity. of vibrating the coated object to embed the flockas the velocity of the compressed air may be so regulated that the flockimpinges on the wet surface withsufiicient force to become thoroughlyembedded therein.

The cotton rayon, silk or mohair flock may be previously dyed to anydesired color. After the coating has become thoroughly dry or set theexcess flock may be readily removed by brushing or may be blown off bymeans of compressed air. The finished surface will now have the generalappearance of having been covered with felt, duveteen or similarfabrics.

Under some conditions it is advantageous to use an adhesive, or otherbase coat, which has been pigmented to approximately match the color ofthe flock. This is particularly desirable where the original color ofthe article differs considerably from that of the flock to be applied.When transparent varnishes or lacquers are used the original color ofthe article may show through to such an extent as to throw the flock'offshade so that the desired color is not obtained. The necessary pigmentmay be incorporated into the adhesive material by any of the well knownmethods.

The adhesive material may be applied by brushing, dipping or spraying.The spraying method is preferred, due to the fact that a large objectcan be quickly coated and the flock deposited thereon before any portionof the surface may have become sufficiently dry to prevent the flockfrom adhering.

Where it is desired to apply my finish to large surfaces, such as burialcaskets, interior of automobile bodies and the like, it is necessary touse a slow drying finish adhesive such as a synthetic resin solution. Byusing a slower drying finish than lacquer it is possible to coat theentire surfaceand then apply the flock and avoid the possibility thatpart of the surface may have become so dry that the flock will notadhere. I find synthetic resin solutions particularly satisfactory asthey dry sufficiently slowly to allow time for the flocking operationyet do not dry so slowly that production is held up. Synthetic productsof the character indicated will air dry sufficiently to allow packingand shipping within two to six hours whereas paint, varnish and similarmaterials will require eight to twenty-four hours. Synthetic resinfinish may also be baked at temperatures around 200-250" F. andthoroughly dried in A,; to 1 hours. The formula of a satisfactorypigmented synthetic resin solution is shown below:

Percent Polyhydric alcohol-polybasic acid resin 30 Pigment 18 Cobaltnaphthenate .1 Mineral spirits 11.9 Turpentine 20.0 Xylol 20.0

A typical formula for the polyhydric alcoholpolybasic resin describedabove would be as follows:

Percent Glycerol 23 Phthalic anhydride 46 Linseed oil fatty acids L i 31It will be evident from these examples that practically any type offinishing material can be used as long as its drying time may beregulated to allow the application of the flock to the surface while itis still sufficiently wet and tacky to secure proper adhesion. It isalso desirable that the finishing material have sufficient adhesion tothe surface to which it is applied in order that the entire finish besufiiciently bonded" or adherent.

The process herein described lends itself to the ornamentation of thesurfaces of-articles of various kinds in a highly economical butextremely pleasing fashion. For example, ordinary metal buttons may bemade to have every appearance of a cloth button. Toy metal furniture maybe made to have the appearance of an upholstered piece of furniture.Vanity cases, pocket books, and other articles too numerous to mentionmay be finished in all sorts of pleasing designs by coatin: one part ofthe article with a fiock of one color, and then through the medium of astencil applying a flock of a different color to produce designs of manysorts. The extent of application of this method is almost limitless, andit ofi'ers marked economies in many fields of manufacture.

I do not limit myself to any particular type of adhesive finishingmaterial so long as it is of a nature to dry much faster than ordinarypaints and varnishes to permit thereby of packing and shipping in muchless time than wouldbe possible where paints and varnishes are used,while at the same time dryingslow enough to permit the coating ofrelatively large surfaces before any part of .the surface has become sodry that the flock will not adhere.

The herein described method of finishing large surfaces such as burialcaskets, interior of automobile'bodies and the like, which consists ofapplying thereto a coating of a viscous material consisting of thefollowing ingredients:

. Percent Polyhydric alcohol-polybasic acid resin 30.0 Pigment 18.0Cobalt naphthenate' .1 Mineral spirits 11.9 Turpentine 20.0 Xylol 20.0

Having described my invention, what I claim

